Collapsible sawhorse or trestle



1953 E. J. DOUCETTE 2,664,319

COLLAPSIBLE SAWHORSE OR TRESTLE Fild Jan. 29 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.4 Ks F|G.5

l2 Fl G. 6 W Q EDMUND a. DOUCETTE V I INVENTOR. Fl y M Dec. 29, 1953 E. J. DOUCETTE 2,664,319

COLLAPSiBL-E SAWHORSE OR TRESTLE Filed Jan. 29, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.9

EDMUND J. DOUGETTE' INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 29, 1953 STATES OFFICE COILA PSIBLE ISAWHOR'S'E ORTRESTLE EtlmundiL-Doueette, nong BranonN. J.

Applic'ationlJanuany .29, 1949, Serial No. 73,540

I 1 "This invention relates "to a collapsible saw horse or trestle used "by various artisans such as oarpenters, Tplasterers, paper hangers, hobby ists, and others for supporting material being workedupon, or for supporting boardsor'a platv'erfie'n't "transportation or storage when not in use andwhich'may be quickly and easily opened up for use.

.An'other obj ect of the resent "invention "is to provide a saw "horse or trestle "which will support relatively great weight without danger of breaking andin "which all engaging surfaces between the raihand vlegs are flush, firm and snug sur'face engagements so constructed and arranged that an vertical lateral *"strains and stresses on the saw horse will be effectively distributed togpievent breakage of any part, as well 'as one in which no strains or 's'tresses will be borne by hinges, bolts, pins or other similar eleime'nts.

With these and other objects in view, as may appear 'fro'm the accompanying specification, the invention consists of various features "of {constructionand combination oaf'parts, which will be first described in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing a collapsible saw horse or trestle of a preferred form embodying the invention, and the features formingtheinvention will 'be specifically pointed out in the claims.

ln'the drawings: v

"Figure '1 is a side elevation of the improved saw horse or trestle in open operative position.

Figure 2 is an end view of the saw horse or trestle in open or operative position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the saw horse or trestle showing it in folded or collapsed position ready for either transportation or storage.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 4.

Figure '7 is perspective views of angle brackets employed in the saw horse or trestle structure.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view 2 'partlyin section ofa modified form of the invention.

Figure 9 is a horizontal section taken on the line 9-8 of FigureB.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a brace structure employed in the modified form of the invention.

7 Referring "more particularly to the drawings, the improved saw horse includes the top rail or supportingb'a'r I which may be made of any suitable materiaI such as a wooden 2 by 4, 2 'by 6 or the like. In the form shown in Figures 1 to '7, inclusive, of the drawings, the rail I has longi tudin'ally extending flat braces 2 attached to its under'surfac'e at each end thereof, the edges of which braces are cut at an acute angle to the perpendicular as shown at 3. -Vertical braces 3 'a're'attached at one e'ndto the bottom or undersurface or "the rail I, and on their inner sides "to the angled portions 3 of the longitudinally ex tending braces 2 and the side edges of a longi- 'tudinally extending brace bar 5 parallel to said rail 1, 'who's'e'side edges are angled to correspond to the "angled portion 3 of the braces 2 as is clearly shown at 6 "in Figure 4 of the drawings. This actsto vertically space the longitudinally extending'brace bar 5 from the rail l as is clearly'sho'wn in Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings.

studs l of the braces tl are angled to correspond to the angularity of the edges of the braces 3 and the longitudinal brace bar 5 and correspond to the trans-verse angle at which the legs l2 extend when they 'arein extended rail supporting position, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings. The legs l2 are provided with longitudinally extending slots 13 therein near their upper ends through which clamping bolts M extend. The clamping bolts 54 are threaded into the downwardly extending angled edges of the brackets 8 and when threaded sufiiciently into the angled brackets 8 will tightly clamp the legs I 2 in supporting position. As clearly shown in Figures 1 and 5 of the drawings the upper ends of the legs 12 are angled so that when the legs are in supporting positions the upper ends will have complete tight surface engagement with the under side of the rail 5 so that any vertical stresses imposed upon the rail will be distribut- 3 ed directly throughout the length of the legs [2 instead of being supported by pivots, bolts, hinges or the like, thus materially adding to the strength and rigidity of the saw horse.

The edges of the legs 12 are out at acute angles to the flat inner and outer surfaces of the legs as shown at it, and in the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 7 of the drawings the inner edges of the vertical braces 4 are cut at a corresponding angle as are also the edges of the transversely extending braces ll carried by the longitudinal brace bar so that when the legs 2 are drawn into supporting position by the bolts M the edges of the legs it will have snug surface engagement with the inner edges of the vertical braces d and with the inner edges of the transverse braces 57 thus providing for distribution of lateral stresses on the legs of the saw horse over relatively large areas rather than upon the bolts it. Also the fiat surface engagement between the edges of the legs and the braces 4 and El will rigidly support the legs in position against wobbling.

If it is so desired, the ends of the saw horse or trestle between the rail i and the longitudinal brace bar 5 and vertical braces may be enclosed by suitable panels 69.

When it is desired to store or transport the saw horse or trestle the bolts it are threaded outwardly a sufficient distance to permit the legs [2 to clear the ends of the cross braces H and the vertical braces d after which the legs are moved both longitudinally and pivotally on the bolts i i and swung upwardly into position substantially parallel with the rail l and folded in beneath the rail to rest upon the longitudinal brace bar 5 where they may be fastened securely in position by means of a strap or other suitable means such as shown at 20 in Figure 3 of the drawings.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 8, 9 10 of the drawings, the major features of the saw horse or trestle are identical with the form shown in Figures 1 to 7 of the drawings, the difference being that the cross braces l? are eliminated and angled substantially U-shapcd braces Eli are substituted therefor. The U-shaped braces til are attached to the edges of the longitudinally extending braces 2,

beneath the under surface of the rail i and they have their legs 3! 32 angled to correspond to the angle at which the legs 52 extend or angle longitudinally of the trestle or saw horse, while their connecting portions 33 are angled with respect to the vertical to correspond to the 4 ment will be provided between the legs 82' and the brackets 30 when the legs I2 are moved and tightened into supporting position, the same as in the structure shown in Figures 1 to 7 of the drawings, so that the distribution of the stresses and strains will be substantially the same in both forms of the invention.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction or arrangement of parts shown, but that they may be widely modified within the invention defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a saw horse or trestle, a top rail, longitudinally extending flat braces attached to the underside of said rail at either end thereof, a brace bar extending parallel to said top rail, said brace bar and said longitudinally extending fiat braces having side edges with corresponding angles, vertical braces in engagement at both ends with the underside of said top rail and attached laterally to the angled side edges of said braces and said brace bar, legs pivotally and longitudinally adjustably supported from said top rail whereby the legs may be moved into supporting position or into inoperative collapse positions, said legs having angled side edges, each of said vertical braces having its inner edges angled to contact and abut at least one adjacent leg in edgewise engagement, and transversely extending braces carried by said top rail and said brace bar for wedging said legs against the vertical braces in the supporting position.

2. In a saw horse or trestle as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the legs has wedgeshaped sides and each of the vertical braces and transverse extending braces forms a wedgeshaped seat in engagement therewith in the supporting position.

EDMUND J. DOUCETTE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 327,427 Zeigler Sept. 29, 1885 467,031 Church Jan. 12, 1892 862,725 Fietsam Aug. 6, 1907 1,601,946 Dujarolin Oct. 5, 1926 1,778,566 Pitner Oct. 14, 1930 1,967,979 Stern July 24, 1934 2,001,438 Stuck May 14, 1935 2,079,575 Matter May 4, 1937 2,144,049 Forcier Jan. 17, 1939 2,194,027 McDonald Mar. 19, 1940 2,281,039 Jones Apr. 28, 1942 2,376,787 Larson May 22, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 612,550 Germany Apr. 27, 1935 

